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Thursday, November 22, 2012 VOL. 30 Number 46
Group changes Turkeys up for name, focus grab at shoot See Page 5 See Page 16
Water rates could rise 20 per cent
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PAT KELLY Boundary Creek Times Reporter
BARRY POPPENHEIM
Greenwood residents could face a 20 per cent increase in water rates and a further three per cent for sewer if council agrees to recommendations by city staff. Greenwood council had their first chance to discuss a report proposing water and sewer rate increases for 2013 meant to begin to ultimately put the two utility funds on a sustainable level in future years. The report was prepared last month by Interim CAO Dan Zabinsky. His recommendation were to: Reintroduce the administration and vehicle charge-outs to the utilities funds for 2013. Raise sewer rates (from $195) by three per cent, an increase of $5.85 per residence per year with other user classes increasing by the same percentage as residential. Raise water rates (from $243.45) by 20 per cent, an increase of $48.80 per residence per year (other user classifications would increase by three per cent). According to the report, residences are currently paying $438.45 per year for water and sewer services. After the recommended increase the combined rate would be $493.10. If council authorizes a flat fee of $80 per year for garbage this will mean an annual utility invoice of $573.10. The report offers council the option of splitting the invoice into two billing periods of $286.55 each. The billings would be in March and September. There are currently 430 residential and 50 commercial users. In recent years the city has also not charged administration time or vehicle charge-outs to the utilities funds. By not doing so, these expenses have been absorbed by the general fund and general taxation. By not taking these expenses into account it has left the yearly expenses lower than they should be and thus the revenues have not risen to reflect the true cost of the funds. Zabinsky’s report estimates that the water fund expenses should
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Ivy Smith was helping her Grandmother Clara with her display at the Arts and Crafts Fair sponsored by Greenwood Library last Saturday. See also page 16.
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PHOTO: PAT KELLY